Ted Horowitz aka Popa Chubby, born March 31st 1960, is a survivor. A product of the streets of New York City he cut his teeth on the hard edged urban sounds of the big apple.
Along the way he came to realize that you must make your own name and you must take what you believe is yours. He defines independence and defies genre. To call him a Blues artist is to belittle who he is and what he stands for. Horowitz is so much more than that. Singer, Songwriter, Guitar stylist, his passions run deep and shine bright.
On his newest release The Catfish, Popa Chubby offers up 12 tunes that embody the badass attitude that defines the self-proclaimed “King Of The New York City Blues. The Catfish is aptly titled as it delivers punch after punch of musical inspiration drawing on 25 plus years of street smarts and road worthy musicianship.
From the first funk/blues rock inspired stylings of “Going Downtown” to the final Dobro tinged classic blues of “C’mon In My Kitchen” the record ebbs and flows with the currents of musical mastery befitting “the Pimp of the river – The Catfish.”
Popa Chubby broaches a wide variety of musical styles and themes on this recording and the songs stand as individual works and as a collection. On the Jazz inspired “Wes Is More” he stretches out on soul jazz stylings and emphasizes the band, featuring Keyboardist Dave Keyes (Bo Diddley, Ronnie Spector) and drummer Dave Moore (Bernie Worrell). On the Hardcore inspired “Motörhead Saved My Life” he tells the tale of how Lemmy gave a young man identity and meaning.
The Memphis infused “Cry Till It’s A Dull Ache” screams of Muscle Shoals as he moans a tale of heartache. The urban stylings of “Slow Down Sugar” feature Popa Chubby’s daughter Tipitina Horowitz on the Miles flavored muted trumpet as does the Reggae infused version of the classic “Bye Bye Love”.
The author’s personal favourite on the album is an instrumental offering entitled “Blues For Charlie”. Horowitz wrote and recorded this after the two massacres endured by his beloved adopted second home Paris.
“Good Thing” and “Put A Ground Man To Shame” shine with a Prince infused funk! The title track defines the record as Popa Chubby tells the tale of the master of the river. The Catfish. The Pimp Daddy, The Big Boss! The song romps with a Stones infused Rock and Roll timelessness.
When asked what he wanted to achieve with this record: “Bigger, Badder, Older, Wiser, Louder, Stronger.” The album is released in the UK on 15th January 2017.
January 2017 UK Tour
Weds 18th London, 100 Club
Fri 20th Milton Keynes, The Stables
Sun 22nd Skegness, Rock and Blues Festival
Weds 25th Newcastle, The Cluny
Fri 27th Stirling, The Tolbooth
Sat 28th Southport, Southport Arts Centre
Sun 29th Somerset, Giants of Rock Festival
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